Local briefs

Calendar: Events listings sought for 2002 KU Edition

It's time to start getting together your event listing for the arts and entertainment section of the 2002 KU Edition.

We want to know about your dance, theater, music and other performing arts programs and about museum and gallery exhibitions. We want to know about community fairs, parades and any special event you might be planning in Lawrence or surrounding communities.

You can send your listings to Jan Biles, arts-features editor, Lawrence Journal-World, 645 N.H., Lawrence 66044, or e-mail them to her at jbiles@ljworld.com.

Deadline for calendar submissions is June 3. The KU Edition will be published in mid-August.

Accident: Reading boy dies of asphyxia

Reading A 12-year-old Reading boy found dead with the rope from a cat toy around his neck died from asphyxia, according to preliminary autopsy results.

But the cause of his death could not be determined, coroner Erik Mitchell said.

Brian Wayne Ashburn was discovered on the front porch of his home with a rope around his neck. The rope came from a toy dangling for the family's cat to scratch, said Richard Old, Lyon County undersheriff.

Old said the death may have been the result of a prank that went bad.

He said it didn't appear that the boy was attempting to hang himself. Old also ruled out homicide as a possibility, saying there was no indication of foul play or any intervention by anyone else.

Johnson County: Former mayor of DeSoto to be prosecuted for theft

Olathe Diversion has been denied for a former DeSoto mayor charged with failing to forward insurance payments from customers at his American Family Insurance Office to the company.

Johnson County Judge James Franklin Davis on Friday set a July 23 preliminary hearing date for James Beadle. He was charged March 7 with felony theft for allegedly keeping the premium payments.

The transactions in question were made between March 1, 2000, and Feb. 29, 2001.

It was not disclosed in court documents how many customers were involved or how much money allegedly was taken.

Reasons for the diversion denial weren't disclosed Friday.

Beadle remains free on bond.

Courts: Leawood husband sentenced in weed killer poisoning

Olathe A suburban Kansas City man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years probation for putting weed killer in his wife's coffee.

Michael Vaught, 43, of Leawood, also must spend 60 days under house arrest after he is released.

Rhonda Vaught asked the judge to grant her husband probation, saying he was "truly sorry" for what he did. She has suffered no permanent physical effects.

Michael Vaught pleaded guilty in March in Johnson County District Court to aggravated battery.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.27 at several stations in Lawrence.

If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price.